When starting a career abroad, be prepared for some major differences in management
culture between your home country and the country you are (going to be) working
in. From greeting people by hugging, to having siestas and to punctuality meaning
that people are 30 minutes late, countries all have their specific customs and
ways of behaving. Be prepared, learn about it and try and adapt your manners
to ensure success when working or doing business abroad.
Select a country:
Working
in Australia
Egalitarianism is a cherished idea in Australia, based on a classless
society in which everybody is treated equally. Consequently, success
should not be overtly celebrated and modesty is an appreciated virtue.
For a foreigner it is important to remember that you should never
criticise Australia or be too positive about your home country.
However the other way round (being very positive about Australia
and negative about your home country) will not gain you any points
either - just try to be modest seems to be the advice.
Working in Austria
Punctuality is essential and business appointments have to be made
in advance.
Working in Belgium
Be aware of the language issue (never call it a problem though!),
it permeates everything.
Working in Canada
With concern to planning, Canadians tend to look a little further
ahead than Americans usually do, however, planning is done on relatively
short-term basis compared to many Northern European countries.
Working in China
Show and talk about your interest in and enthusiasm for Chinese
culture. This helps you to expand your circle of friends in China,
which is important in doing business.
Working in the Czech Republic As many managers have been in post since the days of communism,
there is still a gulf between moves to "westernise" and
the traditional methods of doing business. This is clearly depicted
in Human Resources Management where recruiters shift between selection
on the basis of academic criteria and on the basis of skills and
qualities.
Working in Cyprus Networks are of great importance
due to the small size of the island. Make friends asap - this
will make your life much easier in many ways.
Working in Denmark
If you want to arrange a business meeting in Denmark, make sure
you plan this before 15.00. Due to the fact that almost all
women are full time participants in the labour market, household
responsibilities and childcare are shared between men and women.
Thus, people prefer not to work late, because who will do the
shopping or pick-up the children?
Working in Estonia The Estonian organisational structure
is led by hierarchy and bureaucracy. There is a clear division
of responsibilities. Decisions are made at the top of the
organisation. All communication goes through vertical lines.
Working in Finland
Finns are sincere, straightforward and direct, although they
will never utter their criticism directly, especially not to
people they do not know well. Please note that silence is seen
as an integral part of social interaction, and subsequently,
pauses in the conversation are seen as friendly and appropriate.
Working in France
Both business and government life are characterised by a strong
hierarchical structure. Positions and the corresponding power are
clearly defined. At meetings for instance, seating is in hierarchical
order and important decisions are hardly ever made during the meeting
itself. Often the chief decision maker - the "décideur"
- is even outside the meeting.
Working in Germany
German manners are pretty formal. Germans will always use "Sie"
to address one another, unless they know each other extremely well,
but even then "Sie" is preferred in public.
Working
in Greece
During meetings personal opinions are aired with profound conviction,
preferably against the opinions of everybody else. Everybody
will have their say and is opposed quite strongly. Only for
important matters are formal meetings held. Day-to-day issues
are dealt with informally.
Working in Hungary If you intend to do business in Hungary, you have to show you
are willing to work together with them and that your intentions
are not solely driven by the wish to make money. Your co-operativeness
is essential to gain friends and becoming friends is what it takes
to get something done. Hungarians approach foreigners with some
suspicion and keep them at a distance, only if you are able to make
friends will you be able to do good business with Hungarians.
Working in Iceland
Icelandic manners are formal and although people are rather open
and direct, a certain distance is always kept with foreigners.
Working in India
Indians have a high need for structuring relationships, be it personal
or professional. They are keen on hierarchy. For each hierarchical
category they create, they attach a set of responsibilities and
expectations. For example as a boss you are also expected to be
a mentor to your subordinates.
Working in Ireland
Be prepared! The Irish seem very easy going, but underneath the
conversational surface they prove to be rather tough negotiators.
Working in Italy
Italians have a different feeling towards time than most Northern
Europeans or Americans. ‘Time is created by God with the sole
intention to meet others'. Likewise Italians are rarely on time
(unless it is really important!). Punctuality in Milan means 20
minutes, in Rome half an hour and in the South of Italy 45 minutes
too late.
Working in Japan
Greeting is very formal in Japan. Learn the standard way of greeting.
It requires bowing, polite ways of addressing and the exchange of
business cards. It is also advisable to address your Japanese colleagues
by their job-titles instead of their names.
Working in Latvia
Hierarchy also leads the Latvian and Lithuanian
organisational structure. Latvians who initially started their
career in the Soviet Union highly value a strong hierarchical
structure. The Latvian culture has a natural respect towards
older persons, especially older persons in higher management
positions.
Working in Lithuania Hierarchy also leads the Latvian and Lithuanian organisational
structure. In Lithuania hierarchy is a very important aspect
of the daily business life. As a foreigner you are expected
to assimilate to these norms. This means that as a foreign
visitor you are expected to deal with someone who is in a
rank comparable to yours only, do not address upper ranks
directly.
Working in Luxembourg Luxembourg is the 'melting pot' of Europe; only one out
of four of the people at work is of Luxembourg origin, one third
are crossborder workers from either Belgium, France or Germany
and the rest are mainly immigrants of other European Union nationalities.
But although Luxembourgers are used to foreigners and are able
to speak at least French and German fluently, they get upset
that hardly any of the foreigners takes the effort to speak
their language. If you learn some words of Luxembourgish you
are bound to impress people!
Working in Malta Compared to the other nine EU accession countries Malta
is probably the least hierarchical country. Organisational structures
on Malta tend to be rather flat.
Working in the Netherlands
Cooperation, negotiation and consensus opinion are the mainsprings
of Dutch business. Endless meetings are their result!
Working
in New Zealand
Although communication is less direct than in Australia, it is rather
to the point in New Zealand, but at the same time it is always well-mannered.
Connections are valued highly, but never overplay them. The same
goes for qualifications, rank or title - never oversell, remember
the self-restraining modesty of New Zealanders.
Working in Norway Although the use of mobile phones is wide spread in Norway,
it is considered impolite to have your phone ringing in a restaurant.
Make sure your mobile phone is switched off during lunches.
Working in Poland
Business cards are widely used.
Working in Portugal
There is very little delegation of management responsibility, therefore
it is important to do business with Portuguese of equal status within
a company.
Working in Romania
As a legacy of communism people hardly show personal initiative
and most decisions are referred to a higher level.
Working in Russia
Russians are very proud of their cultural heritage and history and
subsequently know a lot about Russian composers, writers, etc..
They are really surprised if their business counterparts are not
able to give detailed information on their nation's greatest painters,
writers, artists or important historical facts.
Working
in Singapore
Confrontation is avoided at all levels. Asians strive towards harmony
and consensus, in particular since (family) relations are extremely
important. The Economist for instance remarked with regard
to the Japanese that they "are not a rational people in the
sense economist use that term - they sacrifice their interest as
consumers for the nation as a whole; they will make spending decisions
on the basis of who is selling, not on the basis of what is sold,
in short, they would rather pay more for something than less for
it."
Working in Slovakia Most companies in Slovakia are still very traditional;
almost all decisions are made at the top of the organisation.
Working in Slovenia Almost half of all Slovenian women are active in the workforce.
Women hold about one third of the administrative and managerial position
in Slovenian organisations. In many families housework is equally divide
among men and women.
Working in South Africa
Presenting new ideas or products needs to be done with true
confidence. Be likewise interested in their ideas and in what
they have to offer. The presentation itself can be rather informal.
The most important aspect of making business work in South Africa
is a personal relationship, which is based on trust.
Working in Spain
Be aware of the (enormous) regional differences, which are shown
in both cultural manners and language (and in cuisine!)
Working in Sweden
The reliability and soundness of Swedish brands like Saab and Ikea
are significant for doing business in Sweden. The Swedes like people
who do not stick out in the crowd, as outstanding behaviour is not
appreciated.
Working
in Switzerland
Expatriates should be aware of the traditional antipathy between
the country's German- and French-speakers.
Working
in United Arab Emirates
A striking feature that readily leads to some distress for expatriates
working in the United Arab Emirates is the national urge to negotiate.
United Arab Emirate nationals enjoy bargaining to the fullest. For
Westerners, negotiation situations in the United Arab Emirates can
sometimes be very overwhelming when their Arabic counterpart, normally
friendly and polite, suddenly has a fierce outburst. Stay calm and
reproach this passionate behaviour cordially and confidently. Being
able to remain tough but courteous will certainly gain you some
points!
Working in the United Kingdom The British have a fondness for debate and view meetings as
gatherings to seek agreement rather than to issue instructions.
They put a lot of poise, wit and diction in their way with words,
but often do not realise that not everybody is a native speaker.
Working in the United States of America
The words "time is money" capture American business manners:
little sentimentality - every business deal has to be profitable,
no matter if it is a transaction with a life-long friend or family
member; getting fired or bankruptcy carries no stigma - "it
just didn't work out"; no long meetings - "good decisions
can be taken fast"; guidelines and directives are never extremely
detailed - information and inspiration should be shared with subordinates;
and American executives are allowed to make individual decisions
as long as they are within the corporate framework.
On this particular
subject ELM holds more information, which is available through our guides, our Career Consult service, and of course through our courses.
In case you need more information, do not hesitate to contact
us.
Working in Austria
Working in Belgium
Working in China
Working in Germany
Working in Iceland
Working in Ireland
Working in Poland
Working in Portugal
Working in Romania
Working in Spain
Working
in Switzerland
